What is Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever?

Ebola is rare and often deadly disease named after the virus that causes the infection. Ebolavirus is a member of the Filoviridae family which includes five different species of Ebola, four of which can successfully infect humans. The current 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa is the largest in recorded history as well as the first major outbreak of Ebola that this region of Africa has seen. The Ebolavirus was not discovered until 1976 making it a relatively new type of infection.